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How to be comfortable as a beginner!
One of the most frequently asked questions I get is "How do you go to the gym all the time? I don't have that kind of time!" Honestly, neither did I, well at least I didn't think I did.
My daily routine before the gym consisted of waking up at 7 and going to my job at a local newspaper, I would work until 3 or 4 and go home, shower, watch whatever TV show or movie I could find, shower and hit the hay. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Not to mention, the waking up part was the worse part because I was so sluggish and wanted "just five more minutes". The closest gym to my small 1,500 people town, was about 15-20 minutes away and I didn't want to squeeze that into my already "tight" schedule.
Then, by the grace of God, Carlisle, KY (my hometown) got aYMCA, it is small but it serves it's purpose. It opened up in Dec. 2014 and I was covering a story of the Grand Opening for the newspaper I worked at. After following up with the success of the gym, 2 months later, I decided to join since they were running a special on the memberships.
After I joined, and conned a few friends to join me, I found myself squeezing in HOURS of gym time and actually enjoying it. I got to where I didn't need a friend to go with me, I had made friends with the weights (how lame am I) and I would workout for 2 hours or so. Now that I look back at those empty hours, I realize how WASTED my life was. I still spend 1-2 hours in the gym and go about 5-6 days a week, working a new job that is 8am-4:30pm and still manage to have a social life and a steady relationship.
My point being, it's not about time, it's about how bad you want it and how determined you are to get it.
My tips that helped me actually get in the gym are:
1. Start with a friend!
Taking somebody with you helps a lot so you all can talk and look lost together as opposed to you looking lost and confused by yourself.
2. Take advice: They are trying to help you not embarass you.
You're a beginner EVERYBODY was a beginner. Dana Bailey was a beginner (Look her up http://danalinnbailey.com/) Don't feel like you are going to know everything and remember, most people that want to help you are doing so because they don't want you to hurt yourself or waste your time wondering how that metal hunk with cables on it works.
3. Don't go in blind!
Look up workouts, schedules, tips and tricks (you'll be finding those here soon), how cable machines work, etc. before you go in blind. It'll make you feel a little more blended in AND will minimize the time you waste walking around.
4. Lift light
Don't try to be Macho (Wo)Man and go grab the heaviest weight your arms can handle...from being a first hand witness to this, it makes you look worse than it does good. I see bif bodybuilders curling 15 lb dumbbells, I curl 15 lb dumbbells..it's not always about weight. Low weight, high reps MAKE IT BURNNNNN
5. Ask for a tour of your gym
One mistake I made was walking into a gym (that was bigger than Carlisle's because I finally transitioned to a bigger one to suit my big new muscles) and not asking for a tour, went for 2 months before knowing they had a dry sauna in the womens locker room that I could've been using this whole time! It makes you more familiar with your enviroment!
6. If you are a woman, YOU WILL NOT TURN INTO A MAN OVERNIGHT
Ladies, you will not turn into a man just by curling a dumbbell. If you could, I would have some INSANE muscles right now. In fact, you won't turn into that at all, unless you pump some roids...which is your choice, not a good one...but still. But always remember, you work to look the way YOU WANT, not what anybody else wants. Some guys like skinny girls, some like big girls, some like really muscular girls, some like toned girls, I could go on for days but the real critic is the one looking in the mirror back at you.
XOXO,
The Linds